Prof. George Challenger

THE POISON BELT being an account of another adventure of Professor George E.

Challenger, Lord John Ruxton, Professor Summerlee, and Mr. E. D. Malone, the discoverers of The Lost World.

CHAPTER I.

ENTITLED THE BLURRING OF LINES It is imperative that now at once, while these stupendous events are still clear in my mind, I should set them down with that exactness of detail which time may blur.

But even as I do so, I am overwhelmed by the wonder of the fact that it should be our little group of the lost world—Professor Challenger,

Professor Summerlee, Lord John Roxton, and myself—who have passed through this amazing experience." When, some years ago, I chronicled in the Daily Gazette our epoch-making journey in South America, I little thought that it should ever fall to my lot to tell an even stranger personal experience, one which is unique in all

human annals and which stand out in the records of history as a great peak among the humble foothills which surround it.

I was thinking, Mr. Malone, that we could employ you to advantage these days.

And this is an absolutely gorgeous book.

And one of the funnest things about it is that he has cast the main character, Professor Challenger, as Brian Blessed, who was, of course, the best actor who never played Professor Challenger and possibly the only person who should ever have been allowed to even attempt it.

But I fear that Mr.

Blessed is probably too old now for the role.

Now the actual foreword goes like this.

Mr. E.D. Malone desires to state that both the injunction for restraint and the libel action has been withdrawn unreservedly by Professor G.E.

Challenger who, being satisfied that no criticism or comment in this book is meant in an offensive spirit, has guaranteed that he will place no impediment to its publication and circulation.

Mr. E.D. Malone would also wish to express his gratitude to Patrick L. Forbes of Rosslyn Hill Hampstead for the skill and sympathy with which he has worked up the sketches which were brought from South America and also to Mr. W. Ransford of Elm Row Hampstead for his valuable expert help in dealing with the photographs.

Am I thinking of the right author?

Professor George Challenger, Sir Conan Doyle.

Okay.

That's it.